JoJo Siwa, the former Dance Moms star formerly known for her iconic glitter bows and vibrant outfits, is in the middle of an identity crisis, according to viewers.
In a move that many considered a bait-and-switch, the 21-year-old debuted a controversial new look at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles yesterday (March 27).
In line with her attempts at becoming a queer music icon, Siwa appeared on the red carpet with a dramatic mohawk featuring shaved sides, with one half of her head dyed in rainbow colors and the other in the shades of the transgender pride flag.
The look contrasted heavily with an elegant black-and-white photoshoot uploaded on March 20, in which the artist posed draped in a luxurious fur coat, giving a sense of sophistication and old-Hollywood glamour.
Jojo Siwa’s red carpet look at the GLAAD Media Award was labeled “cringe-worthy” by some fans
“This should’ve been your rebrand the first time around,” one of her fans wrote, echoing the sentiments of many fans who would have preferred Siwa embrace a more glamorous side.
“Now this is how you should have changed your image! Not whatever weird reptile joke that other stuff was,” another wrote.
The praise was short-lived, however, as her new look at the GLAAD Media Awards (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) quickly evaporated any possibility of the artist considering a more “conventionally appealing” brand image.
If her flag-colored, bleached-blonde mohawk wasn’t enough to get the point across, Siwa completed her look by wearing a jacket adorned with rainbow and transgender flag accents, and the phrases “Trans Rights Are Human Rights” and “Protect Trans Kids” emblazoned across the back.
Aligned perfectly with the message of the night, the artist’s look served as an unmistakable nod to her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.
Critics argued the artist has “lost her way,” while some fans called for her to return to her roots
While many of her fans praised her for her boldness and colorful outfit, others labeled her appearance as “cringe-worthy” believing Siwa was trying too hard to make herself seen as an ally to the movement.
Recent media appearances and photoshoots in which the artist has embraced a more “androgynous” look have led to accusations of the singer being in the middle of an “identity crisis,” with critics arguing she’s been unable to create a cohesive and recognizable brand image.
For instance, Siwa’s collaboration with Ladygunn Magazine, in August 2024, saw her posing using what appeared to be a jeweled corset with the motif of a muscular male torso, complete with a fake bulge hanging from her crotch.
Fans expressed nostalgia for the days when Siwa’s brand was all about big bows and bubblegum pop, with the only remnants remaining from that era of her career being a heavy emphasis on glitter and jewels.
“She’s really lost her way,” one fan wrote. “This new look just isn’t it, JoJo,” another added.
Siwa explained that her transformation is part of an attempt to keep her fans entertained while being true to herself
Despite constant criticism, the singer has remained unapologetic and firm in her convictions. “I’ve always been myself,” she shared in an interview last year.
Hey-hey-hey JoJo Siwa has arrived to the GLAAD Media Awards red carpet. pic.twitter.com/ArbGBdPq8C
— E! News (@enews) March 28, 2025
The process hasn’t been easy, however, as the artist has explained the toll it has taken on her mental health. In an interview with Ladygunn Magazine, she revealed she needs to “disassociate” when in front of the public, becoming an exaggerated version of herself in order to not “bore” her fans.
“There’s parts of me that the world just doesn’t see because it’s not entertaining,” she said.
“No one wants to see me be boring. The part of me that the world doesn’t see is the person controlling the image you do see.”
Whether fans will stick with the artist through her transformation remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Jojo Siwa has no intention of going back to her old self any time soon.
“Not a fan.” Siwa’s new look proved divisive among her fanbase
